The debate over a drag queen story hour at the Lafayette Public Library continues. Public comment on Tuesday nights City-Parish council meeting lasted more than three hours.
This, after Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux called for the story time to be canceled. Of the people who spoke about the story time, only one person at the meeting spoke against it.
Dozens of people stood in the hallway watching the meeting from a tv screen hoping to get a seat. One member of the audience inside of the chambers was Roxie C Black, a transgender woman and a drag queen who took the podium in support of the event.
“I thought it would have been amazing, to read to kids of a particular age. It would have brought inclusiveness, educating them on how different people are and not to be afraid of it,” Black said.
Dale Hoffpauir, Pastor of Nouvelle Church of the Nazarene, was the only speaker at the meeting in favor of canceling the event. As for why– he quoted scripture.
“I thought the mayor had a very thoughtful and reasoned approach to say hey let’s talk about the process here. He has his own opinion that it shouldn’t proceed and it should be canceled. I just felt that it was important that there were many others that feel the same way and I support him,” Hoffpauir said.
Most of the speakers were hoping the Mayor-President would have a change of heart. Conner Quebedeaux, who identifies as queer, said he doesn’t see anything wrong with the children attending the event.
“Well I think it is one of the most important things that I think a young child could be exposed to, especially because we live in the deeply religious and sometimes the deeply bigoted south,” Quebedeaux said.
As for now, the event is still scheduled for October 6th, and some other businesses are offering their venues if the event has to be moved.
